Adventure Bike Rider Forum

Running in any modern engine is asking for trouble.
Warming up the engine properly is far more important, then just thrash it

Steve

Mike54 wrote:These days tolerances are so tight and machine tools so good that most bike engines cylinders dont even have cross hatch anymore, they're already flat.

In which case they don't even need run in.

I bought my bike and car as ex-demonstrators and saved loads. If the warranty is still valid, go for it.

johnnyboxer wrote:Buy it, if the price is right...............the engine will be better for a good thrashing

I usually buy ex demo's and they're good buys

Personally I wouldn't buy an ex demo as when i do a test ride I thrash the absolute nuts off the bike and give breaks, tyres and clutch a good going over too just to see what's its capable of. Bet I'm not alone in this respect. As for running it, have always followed manufactures guidelines for anything I've owned and never had engine problems with any brand new car or bike so not going to change habits now. Just my 2p's worth.

If its a bargain buy it. Most damage is caused to an engine if it is not warmed up correctly. I don't think anyone is capable of causing damage to an xt1200 engine by thrashing it on the queens highway.(No disrespect to any budding world champions out there)
However do check that the price can't be matched by any other dealer for a new one, I tend to think ex demo prices are too close to a well haggled price on a new bike.

I bought my v-strom as a demo bike 30000 miles later and I had no problems with it,if the price is right go for it

I've driven trucks that are used at max weight all the time. They are so much better than trucks that have run light all the time. They have more power and pull a hell of a lot better.

Engine bores glaze over because they aren't being loaded. You need to force those rings out so they scrape the bores properly. Tickling it for 800 miles aint going to do it any good. Take it easy for a couple of hundred miles so all the bearings have bedded in then ride it normally.

Redsoul wrote:As some of you know I am in the market for a new bike.....have seen an ex demo xt1200z for sale with very few miles but wonder if it s worth the risk knowing that the engine would not have been run in properly.
Bike only has a cpl of hundred miles on it at the mo.

well here my two cents


I cant see what damage could be done to a new engine only after two or three hundred miles, so I cant, change the oil and away you go,


that said, you should never feel under pressure to buy something just because its looks like a bargain, that's a bad way to do business, so it is,

keep it simple, if your not sure about the bike, just walk away (thumbs)

All very strange advice of don't run a bike in (as manufacturers specification).

So what are the theories as to why we are asked to do so? I can't imagine any bike manufacturer not stealing a march on their competitors if it was possible not to, lets face it, it is boring, so logically there must be a good reason.

There is more to it than the engine of course as gearboxes and transmission do wear into themselves.

I may be wrong but I believe:

[ul]
[li]Engines are not bench run in, they are tested.[/li]

[li]Despite tolerances, pistons don't run true parallel with the bore due to the thrust from the connecting rods being acentric. Therefore rings still need to bed in (take shape). Another factor in bedding in is the type of oil used. Mineral for first 500 miles?[/li]

[li]The bigger the bike the less it will be an issue as you are not going to rev it that hard even when riding normally.[/li]

[/ul]

Having said all that my running-ins have always included exceeding the rev limit when a smooth acceleration has been possible once warmed up. The one thing I have always done is ride around local back roads to give the gearbox a good workout, plenty of up and down shifting and roll on/off throttle.

Would I buy an ex demo? Yes, but only after a long test ride.

mm well all I can say is when I got my new bike in 2011, the sales guy told me that bikes are all run in & just ride, sensibly.

This was is a surprise to me because my handbook told me to not go over, (insert amount of Rev's), I have been loan bikes, (demos), while my bike is have its service due to where I live.
I have never thrashed the bike, & always noted the bike only has at most a few hundred miles on the bike.

I personally would go for it, if the right price.